John Key says people should not lose confidence in the job market despite this morning's increase in the unemployment rate.

New Zealand's jobless rate has unexpectedly widened to 6.8 per cent, sparking a sell-off in the kiwi dollar which dropped as much as half a cent.

Salary and wage rates, including overtime, grew 1.7 per cent in the year to the December quarter, says Statistics New Zealand.

British households will face a tight squeeze on living standards from higher-than-expected inflation over the next year.

Peter Dunne has defended the timing of the announcement of eight job losses at the IRD in Greymouth.

More than 50 sawmill workers at two North Island sawmills have been told they will lose their jobs.

Stay-at-home mums are an endangered species these days. I was one once and even then it was hard work explaining why.